Christian Martyrs of Today - World Watch List 2013

Open Doors World Watch List 2013
At the start of 2023, the team that formerly led the U.S. affiliate base for Open Doors relaunched as Global Christian Relief, a separate ministry that continues to raise awareness, prayer, and support for the persecuted church worldwide. Open Doors International continues its work through a new U.S. affiliate office, Open Doors U.S., which supports the organization’s long-established fieldwork in 70 countries.

The two ministries have agreed to work independently to support the persecuted church at a time when worldwide oppression of Christians has reached historic levels. Both organizations remain committed to serving the persecuted church and advocating for their support and prayer as co-laborers for the Kingdom.

“We have enormous respect for Open Doors’ presence and work in the most difficult places,” said David Curry, CEO of Global Christian Relief, and commissioner on the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). “We currently have a handful of ministries doing this work, and we need a thousand.”

“We are thankful for what our former U.S. affiliate has done in the past to raise awareness, prayer and support for those who share our faith in Christ but not our freedom,” said Dan Ole Shani, CEO of Open Doors International. “The global church needs to take its responsibility seriously to ensure that our brothers and sisters in Christ do not face their trial alone.”

Today, more than 350 million Christians around the world suffer extreme persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus—and they need to know they’re not alone. Both organizations encourage U.S. Christians to take action through prayer, advocacy and support for their persecuted brothers and sisters.